It is generally recognized that the current state of Russian speech culture is rather alarming. Almost everyone agrees on this assessment: linguists, philologists, cultural figures, public figures, school teachers, and just readers and viewers of the mass media.

At the same time, there is a great need for literature on speech culture in society.

In this regard, one cannot but welcome the publication of the collective work of Saratov linguists, who have long and productively worked in the field of modern Russian stylistics, under the characteristic and mobilizing title " Good Speech "(Edited by M. A. Kormilitsyna and O. B. Sirotinna. Saratov State University Publishing House. 2001). It is dedicated to the bright memory of Professor Galina Georgievna Polishchuk , a tireless fighter for the purity and beauty of Russian speech.

Although the book is certified as a scientific publication, in terms of its accessibility, the nature and quality of the issues discussed, and the rich illustrative material from modern speech practice, it is, in fact, aimed at the general reader.

The tone of the entire book is set by the first chapter written by Professor O. B. Sirotinina, which presents in general, preliminary form, but sufficiently detailed the main criteria for good speech - compliance with the situation, expediency, consistency with the communication ethics adopted in this language team, reliance on modern language norms, the range of potentially acceptable or unacceptable deviations from the standard of speech. a generally accepted literary norm, depending on the type of speech.

page 123

In order to describe more precisely what is called the culture of speech, it is legitimate and adequate to the current state of Russian speech culture to distinguish four types of it: elite, medium-literary, literary-colloquial and familiar-colloquial. Each of them is linked to indicators of the general culture of the speech author.

At the same time, one cannot disagree with O. B. Sirotinina when she gives a general assessment of the possibilities of rhetorical techniques in colloquial communication: "...rhetorically organized speech is so contrary to the conditions of colloquial communication that even if it is implemented (its very possibility is doubtful), it would cause rejection of such speech because of its deliberate nature. Colloquial speech, as a rule, is not thought out in advance, so the intention of using some language tool, a special technique, including a language game, is very relative."

Here is an answer to the actual question of how important the role of rhetoric itself is in improving the speech culture of modern society.

The following chapters of the book, written by various authors, reveal in detail what makes up a good speech - correctness from the point of view of the norm and communicative expediency; correspondence of speech to the genre, ethical, communicative and rhetorical norms, types of speech culture, as well as the creative originality of its author. In the end, there are samples of good oral and written speech with comments, as well as an extensive list of literature for self-education.

It would be desirable for the book "Good Speech" to find application not only in university and school life, but also among a wide range of readers who are not indifferent to the fate of their native language and national culture.

Z. K. Tarlanov, Doctor of Philology

Petrozavodsk

Permanent link to this publication: